Driving from Queenstown to Franz Josef Glacier

We're starting to think that in New Zealand, it's better going places than actually getting places.

Once again, we were treated to astonishingly beautiful scenery on our drive from Queenstown on our way to see the Franz Josef Glacier. This was a fun drive, with great views of lakes, skinny and steep switchback roads, and plenty of places to stop and get out the camera. I knew it would be fun driving here, but I never expected it to be this fun.


This photo doesn't quite do this scene justice, but this section of road had probably a dozen switchbacks. The slope felt like it was about a 30 degree angle or steeper. You were right on top of the cars coming up on the road beneath you.


More scenes from the drive:


Stopping by one of the lakes to have a snack:


More scenes from the road. It's worth noting that in the United States, you have to drive for hours, even days, to get really good views like these. Here, they're lurking behind every bend in the road:






Even the public rest areas on the drive were beautiful.



We stopped off to make a hiking detour and visit the Haast Pass, which involved a steep, switchback hike. Pure quadriceps.



Another surprise on our drive: a rock-valanche! There was just a slight detour--we still had time to clamber around along the guardrail-less side of the road and look down at the Tasman Sea.


Here's Laura enjoying the heights:


This is a scene from Bruce Beach, on the South Island's West Coast, just north of the town of Haast, NZ. I thought I'd add my own humble contribution to the cairn collection here.




The reason this beach was practically deserted was because there was a 40mph wind blowing constantly. Even the sandflies couldn't stand it. This beach was cool in the summer, and I can only imagine it in the winter. But oh, what amazing natural beauty there is here, everywhere you turn!